Mark Houser, Founder of Symphero Energy Solutions, LLC, Episode 171
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Mark Houser is the founder of Symphero Energy Solutions, LLC, an advisory services company in the oil and gas and renewable energy development markets. Before starting Symphero Energy Solutions, Mark served as Chief Executive Officer of University Lands from 2015 to 2021; he also held multiple executive roles for Enervest, Ltd. and Occidental Petroleum & Canadian Occidental Petroleum, Ltd. Mark began his career in 1984 with Kerr-McGee Corporation. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Petroleum Engineering from Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, and an MBA from Southern Methodist University. Mark currently serves on numerous boards including The Houston Methodist Hospital System and Enerplus Corporation. He and his wife, Lou, have 4 daughters, 9 grandchildren and are active in their church and numerous faith-based organizations in the Houston community.
Mark is on the podcast this week to share how his interest in pursuing a career in the oil and gas industry developed and got him fired up with a vision of what things could look like for him going forward. We dive right into some of the most transformational moments of his career and how they often coincided with transformation in his personal life too. And we dig into the importance of working for a company whose values align with yours and how you share that company culture with the whole team.
“We all need aspirations.” - Mark Houser
“The key is to stick to your values and stick to your convictions.” - Mark Houser
“For you to deliver on your plans, you have to have your employees all engaged in a common mission.” - Mark Houser
This Week on The Wow Factor:
● What Mark learned about customer service and commitment to work from his parents
● Some of the people who influenced Mark in his early life and career, including his uncle
● When he learned firsthand what the oil and gas business was like
● His experience at Texas A&M University and how he continues to live the Aggie Core Values
● Why Mark and his wife both quit their big corporate jobs to move to Dallas, then Canada, with their children in tow
● Why Mark decided to jump ship from a big oil and gas company to a smaller company that aligned better with his values
● The intricacies of raising money in the oil and gas industry and how Mark helped build a committed team
● Moments when Mark developed his leadership skills
● Why a crucial part of leadership is to make sure your story is consistent and Mark’s recommendations for how to do that
● What fracking is and how it works
● Why he created Symphero Energy Solutions and what its vision and mission is
Mark Houser’s Word of Wisdom:
Be where your feet are — for most people, the opportunities that get presented to them come from folks and opportunities right around where they are. You also must remember to keep your feet moving, so you don’t get stuck in the mud. Lastly, keep your eyes out on the Lord and where you're headed.
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